Ugandan forward Travis Mutyaba has signed with French club Girondins de Bordeaux after leaving Egyptian giants Zamalek SC. The talented playmaker, previously with SC Villa, became a free agent following the termination of his contract with Zamalek in August. He has signed a 3-year contract.
Mutyaba’s decision to part ways with Zamalek stemmed from the club’s transfer ban, which jeopardized his prospects of moving to Europe. He had initially joined Zamalek on a four-and-a-half-year deal after an impressive stint at SC Villa, the record champions of the Uganda Premier League. Notably, Mutyaba made history by becoming the first Ugandan player to win the CAF Confederation Cup when Zamalek triumphed over RS Berkane on away goals in the final held in May.
Founded on October 1, 1881, Bordeaux is one of France’s most successful football clubs, boasting six Ligue 1 titles, the most recent in 2009, as well as four Coupe de France trophies and three Coupe de la Ligue victories. The club has a storied history, reaching the UEFA Cup final in 1996, where they faced Bayern Munich, and the Latin Cup final in 1950. While their former home was the Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux has played at the Matmut Atlantique since 2015.
However, the club has faced challenges recently, including administrative relegation to the Championnat National at the end of the 2023–24 season. After initially appealing the decision, they later withdrew their appeal. In August 2024, Bordeaux was further demoted to Championnat National 2 due to bankruptcy, resulting in financial administration imposed by the French football governing body.
Bordeaux has a rich legacy of talent, having been home to stars like Zinedine Zidane, striker Christophe Dugarry, and left-back Bixente Lizarazu. Currently, the club also features former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Andy Carroll. With Mutyaba’s arrival, the team hopes to rebuild and restore its former glory.
